DHANGADI: The state-of-the-art ambulances purchased by Sudurpaschim Province government for usage in the province are yet to be distributed.

Following problems faced by locals due to lack of sufficient ambulances, the province government had bought 16 ambulances through the state ministry of Social Development on July 16. The ambulances were scheduled for distribution in 16 constituencies of the seven districts in the province.

However, the ambulances are still kept at the premises of the vendor company, Tata Motors Sipradi Trading Pvt Ltd, as the directive related to the operation of the ambulances have yet to be approved, according to Narendra Singh Karki, Chief of Health Division at the Ministry of Social Development in the province.

"Procedures have been drafted," Karki said, adding, "the ambulances will be distributed as soon as it is approved."

Since the ambulances purchased are different and modern, they will be distributed only after providing seven days of training to the drivers and health workers, further added Karki.

The ambulances were purchased through an international bidding process at Rs 62,738,500. The provincial government had allocated Rs 64 million for the purchase of ambulances in the last fiscal year.